Who Was Who II of Hanover, IL - Grant Home

Merkel, Frank Peter “Pete” was born January 6, 1927 in Evanston, Illinois and was
the son of Tac T. and Edna Merkel. He grew up in Kenilworth and graduated from New
Trier High School in 1945 and from the University of Illinois. Pete served in the U.S.
Navy. He was first married to Joan (Pollen) Combs and four children were born to this
union: Linda (Merkel) McDonough, Catherine (Merkel) Nilmeyer, Becky (Merkel)
Cote, and Dr. William Merkel. He later married Betty Lou (Temperly) Greiner and this
union gave him two stepchildren: Lissa (Greiner) Van Vliet and Nathan Greiner. Pete
worked for Ford Motor Company and M.H. Detrick Company before he began Merkel
Engineers in Galena in 1971, where he served as chairman. He lived in rural Hanover
for many years. Pete died October 27, 1996 at his winter residence in Punta Gorda,
Florida.
Mickle, Jessie Pauline “Polly” (Likes) was born April 28, 1908 in Fenton, Illinois and
was the daughter of John Kirkwood and Nellie “Nel” R. (Kerr) Likes. She married
Kenneth Charles Mickle on March 19, 1927 in Davenport, Iowa and four children were
born to this union: Peggy Lee (Mickle) Horton, David Eugene Mickle, Joan Kay
(Mickle) Burk, and Sally Ann (Mickle) Wild. She had worked at the Savanna Army
Depot and later worked as a machine operator for 22 years at Atwood’s in Stockton
before her retirement in 1974. They lived in Hanover for many years before Pauline
died March 20, 1992. She is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Mickle, Kenneth “Kenny” Charles was born December 22, 1907 in Fenton, Illinois
and was the son of Charles St. Ores and Ellen Elizabeth (Showalter) Mickle. He
married Jessie Pauline “Polly” Likes on March 19, 1927 in Davenport, Iowa and four
children were born to this union: Peggy Lee (Mickle) Horton, David Eugene Mickle,
Joan Kay (Mickle) Burke, and Sally Ann (Mickle) Wild. Prior to 1933 he operated his
own service garage in Fenton. From 1933 to 1940 he was county road commissioner in
Whiteside County. From 1940 until his retirement in 1957 he worked as a mechanic at
the Savanna Army Depot. Kenny lived in Hanover for many years before he died on
November 14, 1992. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Millen, Clara Elizabeth (Virtue) was born February 2, 1913 in Elizabeth Township, Jo
Daviess County and was the daughter of Alfred Rowe and Bessie Jane (Nesbitt) Virtue.
She graduated from Hanover High School in 1930. Clara taught school at Pleasant Hill
School from 1933 until 1935 and graduated from Monmouth College in 1936. She
married the Reverend Dr. William D. Millen on June 24, 1936 in Hanover and they
adopted two children: Mary (Millen) Cook and Dr. James W. Millen. The family had
lived in Waldwick, New Jersey and also Rio and Galesburg, Illinois. Pastor Millen died
May 14, 2005. Clara died February 6, 2008 in Galesburg; she was cremated and buried
in Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens.
Miller, Beverly “Bev” Jeanne (Sandlin) was born March 22, 1927 in Hanover and was
the daughter of Glenn and Genevieve Alta (Irwin) Sandlin. She graduated from
Hanover High School in 1945. Bev married Richard Clement Miller on July 21, 1951 in
Princeton and three sons were born to this union: Richard Dean Miller, Kevin Miller
who died in infancy on December 23, 1956, and Michael John Miller. Bev worked as a
secretary at the Hanover School, at the telephone office in Hanover, at the Savanna
Army Depot, and at the Hanover Post Office. Bev died March 19, 2005 and is buried in
Evergreen Cemetery.
Miller, Brian William was born June 5, 1982 in Galena, Illinois and was the son of
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